Alleged arms supplies to Ukraine threaten Pakistan's oil deal with Russia: Report

KARACHI: The every-changing geopolitical dynamics between Pakistan and Russia have undergoing new developments as Pakistan’s alleged arms supplies to Ukraine could potentially threaten Russia’s oil exports to Pakistan.

Also read: US paper leaks Pakistani memos revealing abandonment of neutrality

According to a report, Pakistan has been regularly supplying arms to Ukraine, including proposed Anza Mark-II Man Portable Air Defence Systems. This arms deal could jeopardize Russia’s agreement to export discounted oil to Pakistan, which was brokered by China and is set to begin with the first shipment arriving in Karachi in May.

#Ukraine: The Ukrainian army started to use another type of Pakistani ammunition- this time M44A2 120mm HE mortar bombs, in this case made by the Pakistan Ordnance Factories in 2021 and 2022.

Previously Ukraine received significant quantities of 🇵🇰 122mm 155mm artillery ammo. pic.twitter.com/TTTuNVLG5f

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) March 16, 2023

The situation has become more complicated with the involvement of the United States, which is said to have given tacit support to the deal between Russia and Pakistan. While Pakistan remains a crucial arms supplier to Kiev, the US wants to maintain its influence in the Af-Pak region and engage with Pakistan, a close ally of China.

Pakistan’s plan to export the Anza Mark-II Man Portable Air Defence Systems to Poland, which will then be transported to Ukraine, has only added fuel to the fire, the report says.

The report says that in the recent past, Pakistan has been supplying weapons to Ukraine through surreptitious routes and methods, using Poland as a conduit. Pakistani entities have also signed official agreements with Polish defence firms to supply equipment to Ukraine, with many of the weapons being routed through Canadian intermediary firms.

Russia is reportedly monitoring the situation closely and the US attempting to balance its interests in the region, and the fate of the oil deal between Pakistan and Russia hangs in the balance.